Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Identity politics

Life in the United States is increasingly defined by a person’s
identity as a member of a particular race, gender, income stratum, political party,
religion, and so forth.

I strongly dissent.

I am of European descent but that does not define my
identity. My race certainly shapes my existence in ways that I only partially
understand but my identity is primarily as a human. As a human I attempt to
value people of all racial heritages equally. Racial diversity incalculably enriches
rather than impoverishes my life.

I am a male but that does not define my identity. As with
race, gender shapes my existence in ways that I only partially understand. However,
masculinity does not define who I am. My X chromosome arguably shapes my
existence more than does my Y chromosome. The diversity of gender identities incalculably
enriches my life.

The same is also true for membership in a political party,
affluence, religion, etc.

When I look at another person I see a child of God and
wonder how my life will be enriched by my relationship with that person.

I don’t know what the slogan “Make America Great Again” means.
What is greatness? When was American great in a way that both embraces and honors
diversity?

Ironically, perhaps the most quoted phrase in the
Declaration of Independence is “God created all men equal.” While in elementary
school, I ceased accepting the prevailing interpretation of the word “men” used
in that phrase, i.e., that “men” when placed in its historical context, meant
all people. That interpretation is egregiously wrong. The authors of the
Declaration of Independence intended the word “men” to denote white, property
owning, males. By implication, females and people of color, whether free or
enslaved, were less than fully human.

I do know what it means to “Make America Good.” A good
nation is one that respects the dignity of every human being. A good nation is
one in which all people enjoy liberty, justice, and equal opportunity.

Identity politics inherently move us away from goodness.
Enjoy diversity. Allow diversity to enrich life. Illustratively, multi-racial
ethnic and racial neighborhoods and workplaces are healthier, more creative,
and horizon expanding. Living and working in economically and politically
diverse contexts broaden perspectives and tear down artificial barriers to
human community.

I regrettably attended an all-white elementary school (hard
to avoid in small town Maine sixty years ago), divided my college years between
an all-male school and one that accepted women, attended economically elite and
economically diverse universities, worked in a couple of all-male environments,
lived and worked in contexts in which some people had to hide their true gender
identity, etc. I am thankful that these experiences have been exceptions not
the norm in my life.

I have viewed my experiences at the time and in retrospect
uniformly: a lack of diversity impoverished and harmed me; diversity of every type
shaped me into a better person by improving my enjoyment of life, enabling me
to better understand other people, and being a catalyst for my more fully
respecting the dignity of every human being.

In the America of my adolescence many parents worried about
a child marrying a person of another race or religion or of the same gender.
Thankfully, those prejudices are rapidly dissipating. Even so, race, religion,
and gender identity too often define a person’s identity rather than describing
some of an individual’s characteristics. And too many neighborhoods are becoming
more economically segregated.

Parents now worry that a child may marry someone of a
different political party; people similarly worry that a new neighbor may
belong to the wrong political party. A politician’s character and judgment are widely
regarded as less important than whether the politician belongs to the right
political party.

I vote to end identity politics. I vote for celebrating diversity.
I vote for making America (and the whole world) good, not great.